Come and experience living on the beautiful Scottish Isle of Canna, UK
Last activity
: 27 Apr 2025
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Usually responds within 7 days
Min stay requested: 1 month or more
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
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Host ref number: 678429527453
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Feedback (17)
Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)
Thanks Hannah for coming to work with us!
Hannah was practical, helpful, was able to bring her experience and was flexible to help with a wide range of tasks.
That ranged from painting, lambing, cleaning, gardening etc etc
We were really happy to have Hannah come and work with us and would recommend her for any other Workaway placements.
Left by Workawayer (Hannah) for host
I had such a good time here. Canna is absolutely stunning and Isbeail is lovely. When we worked together I really enjoyed our chats and I got to watch lambs being born and also got to bottle feed a tiny, insistent lamb. The work was varied, the hours were good, pay was prompt, the staff house was gorgeous and with incredible views.
I did
… read more gardening, painting, cleaning, laundry and changeovers of the caravans, pods and bunkhouse. She was respectful of my space and appreciative of my work, working here felt really nice.
When I was there it was quite solitary, there was one other person in the staff house who worked different hours so I spent a lot of time alone - possibly best for a couple or pair of friends - but it's a 3 bed staff house so you may get lucky and have lots of company! The island's only cafe is busy and the islanders were really friendly. There's only one small shop on the island but you can get the coop on Mallaig (mainland) to send you your order on the ferry.
If I hadn't had another workaway I was going to I would have stayed longer, and I'd love to come back sometime.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Elisa) for host
Isebail is an incredible woman, and an incredible workaway host. I can't recommend working for her highly enough. My stay on Canna was from May-September 2022, working between the campsite, Isebail's huge and lovely garden, the community shop, and with the animals. There is a great mixture of different stuff to get involved in, and you will never
… read more get bored. My accommodation was a shared 3-bedroom house, with two other seasonal workers, which was fabulous. The very small community are so welcoming and friendly, and you will soon feel at home. The island itself is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Sunsets you can't imagine, and stars forever. Isebail is a very fair and approachable employer, who appreciates your hard work, input, initiative and transparency. This is a completely unique workaway, which you will learn a lot from, I can guarantee. Thank you so much for having me Isebail, and I hope to come back!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Kinga) for host
Canna
My experience on Canna was extraordinary. The island is extremely amazing and although getting there was quite challenging for me, I would never change it for anything else.
Sometimes the work was quite hard, but nothing that a person couldn’t have handled. I usually worked in garden though which was such a pleasure! Accommodation had
… read more everything you need and Isebail was always helpful if you wanted something else.
The island itself is out of this world. Extremely peaceful, full of wildlife (those seals!) and some gorgeous nature. It’s good to have proper walking shoes there if you want to explore some of the routes and I can assure you there is plenty to see.
Isebail is very kind, hardworking person. I was happy to hear some of her stories and she always had time to answer my questions.
Thank you for everything and I wish you all the best with your future projects!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)
Thanks Hannah for coming to work with us!
Hannah was practical, helpful, was able to bring her experience and was flexible to help with a wide range of tasks.
That ranged from painting, lambing, cleaning, gardening etc etc
We were really happy to have Hannah come and work with us and would recommend her for any other Workaway placements.
Left by Workawayer (Hannah) for host
I had such a good time here. Canna is absolutely stunning and Isbeail is lovely. When we worked together I really enjoyed our chats and I got to watch lambs being born and also got to bottle feed a tiny, insistent lamb. The work was varied, the hours were good, pay was prompt, the staff house was gorgeous and with incredible views.
I did
… read more gardening, painting, cleaning, laundry and changeovers of the caravans, pods and bunkhouse. She was respectful of my space and appreciative of my work, working here felt really nice.
When I was there it was quite solitary, there was one other person in the staff house who worked different hours so I spent a lot of time alone - possibly best for a couple or pair of friends - but it's a 3 bed staff house so you may get lucky and have lots of company! The island's only cafe is busy and the islanders were really friendly. There's only one small shop on the island but you can get the coop on Mallaig (mainland) to send you your order on the ferry.
If I hadn't had another workaway I was going to I would have stayed longer, and I'd love to come back sometime.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Elisa) for host
Isebail is an incredible woman, and an incredible workaway host. I can't recommend working for her highly enough. My stay on Canna was from May-September 2022, working between the campsite, Isebail's huge and lovely garden, the community shop, and with the animals. There is a great mixture of different stuff to get involved in, and you will never
… read more get bored. My accommodation was a shared 3-bedroom house, with two other seasonal workers, which was fabulous. The very small community are so welcoming and friendly, and you will soon feel at home. The island itself is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Sunsets you can't imagine, and stars forever. Isebail is a very fair and approachable employer, who appreciates your hard work, input, initiative and transparency. This is a completely unique workaway, which you will learn a lot from, I can guarantee. Thank you so much for having me Isebail, and I hope to come back!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Kinga) for host
Canna
My experience on Canna was extraordinary. The island is extremely amazing and although getting there was quite challenging for me, I would never change it for anything else.
Sometimes the work was quite hard, but nothing that a person couldn’t have handled. I usually worked in garden though which was such a pleasure! Accommodation had
… read more everything you need and Isebail was always helpful if you wanted something else.
The island itself is out of this world. Extremely peaceful, full of wildlife (those seals!) and some gorgeous nature. It’s good to have proper walking shoes there if you want to explore some of the routes and I can assure you there is plenty to see.
Isebail is very kind, hardworking person. I was happy to hear some of her stories and she always had time to answer my questions.
Thank you for everything and I wish you all the best with your future projects!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Andy) for host
Me and Kristyna spent amazing two weeks with Isebail and are happy to describe a very positive experience we had.
The island is a real paradise and so are the people living there. After our time there we felt like a part of the community.
Yes, the work was quite hard some days but nothing we couldn’t handle (working with the spade, the sickle).
… read more Afterward we enjoyed the stunning walks the island has to offer.
All thanks go to Isebail to be such a nice host! She really made our time more enjoyable and even provided vegan food for us. We hope to come for a visit again sometime.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
I was thinking about whether to write a review or not, but finally decided to do so other Workawayers have the possibility to read the story from both perspectives and then make their decision. Yes, I have left this place after 3 days, although we had agreed 2 weeks. It is an absolutely stunning green island, but there a few things that need to be
… read more mentioned.
If you are looking for a friendly and welcoming place where you as a person and your help with daily tasks is much appreciated, then better search for somewhere else. I arrived here on a weekend and was picked up by Isebail and instantly had to start work, without leaving my bags and rucksacks at home. She showed me home only after 3 hours of work on my arrival day. I did not feel welcome. Even though it was agreed for the food to be provided, Isebail did not do so, but asked me to sit down in her house instead and would then cook for me. As a grown-up woman I felt unconfortable in this situation as I like to take care of my own meals. I worked 5 hours that day and in the evening after 7pm she came to pick me up again, to show me more work that had to be done.
The house I would sleep in was messy, the bed undone and the walls covered with spiders and dead worms. I was not aware that Isebail would decide to come and sleep in the same room with me. That made me feel more uncomfortable. She also let me know, that she would be away for the following three days, means she will be leaving the island and was expecting me to take full responsibility for HER tourism business.
I was imagining something else when I heard about workaway. I believed it was a great platform to go and meet local people who are happy to meet you, too and glad to exchange languages and learn about different cultures. I am sure, this is Workaways intention. But some people are apparently not aware of that and use it to find cheap workers although they would desperately need additional employees rather than expect a Workawayer to work over 5 hours a day and not feel the need to be thankful.
For me, personally, it was a very important lesson I had to learn, and I am glad, that I have spent those 3 days there. It helped me to really recognise that I am not willing to let people treat me in a disrespectful way. My decision to leave earlier was absolutely right and I would do the same anytime again, if people were not nice towards me.
But in the end, we just did not share the same energy, so this is my very own and subjective experience and it might be completely different with someone else.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
After arranging on a Saturday and stay for up to 2 weeks, Lana decided after 1 day to leave on the Wed.
We agreed this and arranged the work to be done up to the Wednesday. I then received news that Lana would now leave on the Monday - creating a real problem for our business and customers. Lana did not communicate with me about this. She needs
… read more to take responsibility for her actions or realise the impact of these.
We accepted her into our home and trusted her to stick to the agreement and are really disappointed by this experience.
Left by host for Workawayer (Dounia)
this workaway did not arrive as planned and she did not let us know that she was not coming!
(Workawayer cancelled last minute / no-show )
Left by Workawayer (Montserrat ) for host
I spent the last two weeks of August in Canna and I have to say that it’s an unforgettable place. It’s a tiny Island with not much to do but staring at those landscapes it was enough for me. I wish I could have had the chance to spend more time with Isabeil but she went on Holiday my last week. However, I had enough time to discover that she is a
… read more very interesting woman with a lot of projects going on, has a good sense of humour and wonderful cooking skills. One day she cooked a tasty “tortilla” and another day she did some delicious cauliflower and potatoes curry. Locals and Isabeil’s family were very kind to us. Mostly everyday, when we went back from work we had cakes, pies or biscuits on the kitchen table. Also, we had the chance to go kayaking around the bay because Isabeil and her sister lent us their kayaks.
Also, there was Dori, another volunteer who had been there since the beginning of June. Dori is the person who I shared room with and she was really helpful to me. I learnt a lot from her and she showed me lovely spots in the Isle. One day, we went to the lighthouse and I could see dolphins, seals and whales. It was amazing. Another day, we went to the beach (a white sand beach which looks like a Caribbean beach) and I had a swim.
The job is not difficult I helped in the garden harvesting, trimming, weeding. When it was rainy I usually helped ironing the campsite and caravans’ linen. Also, I had to do some cleaning in the pods and caravans on departure days.
I highly recommend to visit Isabeil and Canna if you want to relax and break away from daily worries and responsibilities. You’ll feel welcome from the first moment until the last day. You won´t regret.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (FEDERICA) for host
Great experience! The Scottish world of the Isle of Canna is warm and welcoming, the place stunning. I really enjoyed the time spent there working in the garden and in the campsite. Isebail and her family are wonderful, absolutely lovely! Always running around busy with sheep and cows, with long awsome walks among hills covered with purple heather
… read more gathering flocks, with guests and things to do. The house is comfortable, the life easy.You are greatly provided with all you need, with all you may want, and you do not want anything more than breathe and live and stare at the sea since the first moment you set foot there.The food is fresh and tasty, the house comfortable and nice. I loved the hot water bottle at night under my duvet listening to the seals in the bay! I have never felt so at home before, so in the middle of nowhere...
Tapadh leat, Isebail, agus mar sin leat... an drasda :-)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Amelie) for host
Great experience! I improved my weeding and language skills a lot ;) Also everybody was so caring and I felt welcome from the first moment. Thank you!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Peter) for host
Excellent stay, full of new experiences , ten days felt like five by the end, would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to escape all the noise.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Patrice) for host
I've pass three wonderful weeks in Canna island.I had a very warm welcome by Isebail and her family.The island is marvelous and all unhabitants friendly.The work wasn't very hard and i did it with a lot of pleasure.Ihope to come back one day and maybe the next year.One more time,thank you very much eIsebail for your welcome , your cooking and your
… read more good mood.PatriceYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Jenny) for host
I spent two weeks of July on the beautiful island of Canna helping Isebail around the place. If you love nature, archaeology, birds or geology it has plenty for you, if not it's a stunning little island and on a sunny day you can see all the way to the Outer Hebrides! There are seals in the bay and you go to sleep to the sound of sheep and cows
… read more :). I got to see puffins up close which was worth the trek across the island!
The work itself is varied and depends on the state of the garden and how busy the campsites are. In two weeks I cut grass (with a mower and by hand with a sickle - very retro!), raked grassed, weeded the garden, cleaned and organised the camp kitchen, changed over the caravans whenever new guests came in, sanded and painted the outside of the sleeping hut, helped restock the shop and on a very early morning helped gather sheep in for shearing. It's outside work most of the time so you have to expect to get rained on every now and then but it was very satisfying and you sleep very well. You sleep in a converted shed but it's very warm and comfortable, there's another shed with a bathroom and kitchen area ( when I left the hot water had not been connected to the shower yet so we had showers in the main house next door).
As other workaways have commented, Canna is lovely but very isolated so you need to be able to keep yourself amused when you have time off (and be aware that while there's wifi in the house, it doesn't reach the huts. There is an ethernet cable though.) There are walks around the island but the ferry schedule doesn't really allow for day trips to the other islands.
Isebail takes good care of her volunteers (even me when I accidentally ran the mower over her blueberry bushes, sorry!). Thanks for having me and I'm finally going to email you the recipes that I promised. :)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Joris & Joris) for host
It was such a pleasure to meet Isebail and her family. They are "native" to the island, and can tell you everything about the surrounding area; one of their houses are even over 100 years old! I was able to come a bit last minute to help out with work in the garden.
Isebail has some great projects going on that myself and another wonderful
… read more workawayer were able to contribute to that ranged from more physical to less; the polytunnel, planting some wildflowers, clearing and fertilizing an area for a pumpkin patch, and also some help with light landscaping such as cutting hedges, grass and pruning. The garden is huge and broken into different levels, and there is always something to help with. We also helped to create some social media contact for communal projects. Accommodation ranged depending on what was available at the moment, but was comfortable and had what you needed, though it is good to note wifi is available at the cafe and main house only. Food was either provided or you can eat or cook with Isebail (we had some great dishes together!) And a lot of the produce can come fresh from what they grow in the garden or polytunnel.
In short, Isebail is a wonderful person, always grateful, easy going and interesting to talk to, and I felt completely comfortable the entire time. Thank you for making my week on Canna so pleasant, it was a wonderful experience to see the beautiful nature, landscape, surrounding islands and little lambs!
All the Best,
StevieYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Anne)
Anne was great to have on the island and I really valued her independence and ability to turn her hand to different jobs - especially driving my old jeep! It was also great to have someone independent and reliable that enabled me to go away for my friend's 50th birthday knowing that guests would be looked after and jobs done.
Anne also
… read more contributed to the island community by taking on the task of repainting the phone box a lovely bright new red! -And dealing with all the questions visitors to the island asked while she was painting. Anne travelled on her own but was able to mix in and work together with the other workaways at my place and also mix in with my family and everyone else that came around.
I miss my workaway volunteers!! and it would be great to have Anne come back again to visit so we can get an update on her adventures in Scotland.
Left by Workawayer (Anne) for host
For three weeks I stayed on the beautiful island of Canna. The island itself was wonderful. The work was fun and different each day. From cleaning the caravans and pods to building shelves, gardening and fixing up the phonebox. Isebail has a lot of fun tasks for you to do and you have a lot of freedom to do them as you like. She also trusted me a
… read more few days to be in charge if the campsite, what was a lot of fun.
Thanks, Isebail, I had a great time!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (CaraKiwi)
Thanks Cara for coming and helping out on Canna and fitting in with our busy routine! With Cara's help (she did most of the work!) we now have a very clean and freshly painted caravan to rent out to visitors. Plus lots of work done in the garden and polytunnel even when the weather was wet and it was great to get Cara's insights and expertise on
… read more work projects. Cara was also really flexible and fitted in with the other workawayers and my family all in the one house. Thanks again and we hope to see you back on Canna sometime soon!
Left by Workawayer (CaraKiwi) for host
A great way to experience one of the close knit communities of the small Scottish isles. Isebail is a wonderful host and an excellent cook. I helped with painting a caravan and some garden maintenance, in between dodging rain showers! A good place for someone willing to jump in and help without needing explicit instructions. I would happily return
… read more to help again.
Be aware that while Canna is a lovely island with beautiful scenery and an interesting history complete with ruins; it is small and there are no regular commercial day-return trips available to nearby islands. Be prepared to entertain yourself in the time off.
This workawayer has chosen to keep their profile private, but can be contacted regarding this feedback by other workawayers.
Left by Workawayer (Christiana) for host
Canna is an absolutely beautiful place and Isebail is a wonderful host, the two weeks I spent working here went by too fast! A fellow workawayer and I spent the days doing various jobs in the garden and campsite and caravans, learning new things everyday, and in the afternoons there was time to explore the island. Isebail was very thoughtful and
… read more made us feel welcome, and we enjoyed her delicious meals and good conversation. I'm sure I'll come back to Canna someday!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (MissDebora) for host
My experience on Canna was out of the ordinary yet some parts of it were just perfectly domestic. Staying with Isebail was like staying with half of the population of Canna, seeing as there is a trusted open door policy being maintained. There’s hard workers there and it is easy to join in, hours fly by. I’ve enjoyed being useful in these
… read more beautiful surroundings very much. On the other hand, while spending your free time walking around on Canna it can seem like time has been and is standing still. Which is definitely confronting and not for the extraverted people, but oh so peaceful and I love it in the end.
I’ve enjoyed the meals, the fires, laughs, trust, conversations and walks with you, Isebail (and family+friends). You’re a caring host who installs a sense of responsibility in her guests which I find admirable. Wish you well with all the balls you’re keeping in the air. You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah Kristin & Melina)
It was so lovely to have Sarah and Melina to stay and work with us on Canna. They really fitted in with my super busy house and island life. They had good skills and attitude to help-I was able to go and work on the farm and come back to see all the tasks that had been done - my garden is very tidy now! Sarah and Melina have a great attitude, hard
… read more working, fun, very easy to be with and also they baked me a beautiful birthday cake! They were my very first Workaway volunteers so I had a very good experience! A big thank you to Sarah and Melina and I hope they have a good summer in Scotland.
Left by Workawayer (Sarah Kristin & Melina) for host
We had one of the most interesting experience on our trip here on Isle of Canna. Isebail was a lovely, fascinating and very busy women, who showed and told us a lot about the Island and the people who live there. We enjoyed her meals, storys and her enthusiasm that we had a great experience.
The work in the garden was a lot of fun (we felt
… read more like garden pros with our small hedge trimmers) and we even divided how hard and fast we would work.
Thank you for the wonderful time, we felt like home! We hope everything happens like you wish for!
Greetings to your family and maybe one day we will see puffins! ;)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
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